The cost to replace Medicare’s existing payment formula for physicians now is estimated at $175 billion, $37 billion more than previously projected, according to the latest report from the Congressional Budget Office.Because the current reform proposal (H.R. 2810) — in late July by the House Energy and Commerce Committee — does not include any details on how to pay for itself, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimate is the benchmark lawmakers will use as they debate ways to save enough money elsewhere to fund a replacement for Medicare’s sustainable growth (Read more...)